Harriton Loses For First Time This Season

coach Matt Barr has his gauge now. It came in a neatly wrapped 35-19 loss to Springfield Friday in the Central League opener for both teams, and it was tinged with a dash of brilliance here and there mixed in with a dose of futility and frustration.

Because the Rams, who dropped to 1-1 overall, had more than their share of opportunities to beat a very good Springfield team.

“I think that’s what is so hard about it. We did have our chances and without a doubt we didn’t capitalize on a lot of opportunities,” said Harriton senior tight end/linebacker Ryan Kelly, who caught three passes for 59 yards and touchdowns. “We had our chances, we had them and we let them go. We have a lot of talent on this team, I think, but there were a lot of little things that went wrong.”

Kelly was part of the many positives, along with junior quarterback Pat Moriarty, who completed 19 of 33 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns—both to Kelly, with an interception.

“We had a good game plan. We thought we could spread them out, but in the second half, they spread their linebackers out and they were playing mostly for the pass,” said Moriarty, who started on fire, completing 9 of 10 passes for 113 yards, including a 21-yard TD pass to Kelly in the first quarter. “We have the talent to beat a lot of teams. But I think we learned a lot of things about this game. We have to keep our heads up and I have to do more, I need to take on more leadership responsibilities.”

Harriton led once, 7-0, on Moriarty’s 21-yard strike Kelly with 5:00 left in the first quarter. Then the Springfield running game, behind a career-best 206 yards and three touchdowns by Springfield tailback Rob Murphy, took over. The Cougars scored on three-straight possessions to take control of the game.

Harriton closed within 28-19, but failed on a two-point conversion with 2:42 left to play. Springfield took the ball and ground down the clock, when Springfield’s Dougherty broke a number of tackles and scored on 18-yard run with 5.1 seconds left to play. It led to a little discussion after the game between the coaches, which was quickly resolved.

For Barr, it was difficult. The Rams’ coach has steadily built the program back up, though it’s games like this that gnaw at him. The dropped passes, one for a possibly touchdown, the mental mistakes, poor reads and silly penalties added up.

“It’s frustrating, frustrating for me, frustrating for the kids, because we have some talent here,” Barr said. “We’re pretty young in spots and not physically and mentally mature right now. It’s showing up on the field. We’re getting there. It’s just frustrating because we had so many opportunities to win this game. Hopefully, the kids will take it to heart.”

Harriton will play at Radnor Sept. 16.